Machine for operating upon boots and shoes.



R. C. SIMMONS.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON BOOTS AND SHOES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1909.

1,145,390. Patentd July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1- Fig.1.

R. C. SIMMONS.

MACHINE FOR OPERATiNG UPON BOOTS AND SHOES APPLICATION FILED APR.23, 1909.

Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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UNXTED STATES PATENT OFFICE RALPH C. SIMMONSQOF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PA'IEBSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOR OPERATING UPON BOOTS ANDSI-IOES,

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Ju'ly'fi, 1915.

Application filed April 23, 1909. Serial No. 491,785.

To all ct /10m it may concern Be it known that I, RALBH C. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverely, in the county Of ESSQX and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Operating Upon Boots andShoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to shoe positioning devices and is herein shown embodied in a device adapted to position a shoe in suitable relation with an operating tool by engagement with said shoe.

Heretofore in machines in which a shoe and an operating tool have a relative movement into and out of operative relation it has been customary to employ devices for positioning the shoe in proper relation to the tool. In the use of the previous shoe positioning; devices, however, it has frequently been necessary in changing from one size of shoe to another for the operator to adjust the positioning device in order to position the new shoein a relation with the operating tool that is in accord with the size above mentioned.

of said shoe. To make, this adjustment has necessitated the waste of valuable time by the operator and with careless or ineXp'eri enced workmen the adjustment is often not properly made so that the quality of the work produced is impaired.

i-kccordingly an object of the present invention is to provide ashoe positioning device which shall be-free from the objections lVith this object inview the present invention contemplatesthe provision of means for relatively positioning a shoe and an operating tool controlled in accordance with the size of the shoe. a

The present invention is particularly advantageous when applied to machines in which the operating tool is automatically actuated. since by the use of devices embodying theinvention inmachines of this class a shoe and the operating tool may be quickly and accurately positioned in proper relation to each other prior to the actuation of the tool, so that the output of, the machines may be increased over that previously attained.

One embodiment of the present invention is herein shown by way of example applied to a machine for breasting heels, but it will be understood that the invention is not-limited for use with this particular kind of machine.

In accordance with the embodiment of the invention just referred to, there is provided means for limiting the movement of a shoe (into operative relation with the breasting knife controlled in accordance with the size of the shoe. The means herein shown for limiting movement of the shoe into operativeposition consists of a movable gage, arranged to be engaged by the shoe in its movement into operative position and to yield to the movement'of the shoe,

movement of the gage; The stop is mechanically adjusted in accordance with the size of the shoe presented-to the device. In the present construction the shoe is moved into operative position in the direction of its length and means is provided for measuring the width of the shoe -which is arranged to adjust the stop in accordance with the measurement thus obtained. Preferably the gage is arranged for engagement with the rounded end of the heel of the shoe and the measuring means is arranged to measure the width of the heel. With this arrangement the heels of-shoesof different sizes may be mechanically positioned in such relation to the breasting knife that the lengths of the heels as determinedbythe breasting operation will be inaccord with the widths of saidheels. The means 'for measuring the size of theshoe is preferably constructed to center the shoe transversely of its line of movement into operative position as the shoe is moved into said position.

In the present embodiment ofthe invention the' gage that is arranged to be engaged by the rounded end of the heel is carried by a slide mounted for movement in direction substantially parallel with the line of movement of the shoe into operative position and a stop slide extending trans versely of the first slide carries a stop arranged to control the movement'of said first slide, the arrangement beingsuch that the limit of rearward movement of the first slide varies with the adjustment of the stop slide. The measuring means comprises a pair of spring-pressed members arranged to engage the edges of the heel upon opposite sides and to yield equally and in opposite directions as the heel is inserted between them. The spring-pressed members are connected with the stop slide so that the latter is adjusted in accordance with the width of the heel inserted between said members. With this construction it will be seen, since the stop slide controls the limit of rearward movement of the slide, that the gage and consequently the heel will be positioned in the direction of the length of the shoe in accordance with the width of the heel.

There is preferably provided means for locking the stop slide in adjusted position in order that the gage may not be forced backward beyond its proper position as determined by the width of the heel presented to the shoe positioning device. According to a preferred construction the stop slide is locked in adjusted position by mechanism mechanically actuated by the latter portion of the movement of the shoe into operative position, and said mechanism is automatically actuated to release the stop slide when the shoe is withdrawn from the positioning device.

In breasting heels it is sometimes desirable for ornamental effect to breast the heels by cuts which are oblique to the longitudinal median lines of the heels. It is customary to have the breasts of the heels inclined forwardly toward the outer side of the shoe so that a right heel will be breatsed by a out which is oppositely inclined to that of a left heel. In the machine to which the present invention is herein shown applied the shoe to be operated upon is carried by a shoe support which is constructed to permit tilting movement of the shoe about an axis extending longitudinally of the' knife, so that the heel of the shoe may be positioned in an angular relation to the breasting knife corresponding to the inclination desired for the breast of the heel.

A feature of the present invention consists in the provision of means for position ing a shoe in such relation with the breasting knife that the heel of the shoe may be breasted by a out having the desired inclination to its longitudinal median line. The construction is preferably such that right and left heels may be accurately positioned in such relation to the knife that they will be breasted respectively by cuts having equal and opposite inclinations.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration and description herein the rounded end of a heel sustained within the positioning device is allowed to have a limited movement transversely of its longi tudinal median line and the breast end of the heel is restrained from transverse movement so that the shoe may be tilted about an axis which extends longitudinally of the knife in proximity to said breast end in order to position the heel in the desired angular relation with the breasting knife. There is provided a member for engaging the rounded end of the heel, which is arranged for movement with said end in a direction transverse of the longitudinal median line of the heel, and means for limiting the transverse movement of said member in opposite directions respectively which are arranged for equal adjustment so that the transverse movement permitted the rounded end of the heel in one direction will be the same as that permitted in the opposite direction. The construction is preferably such that the means for limiting the trans verse movement of the member that is engaged by the rounded end of the heel can be conveniently adjusted by the operator to vary the extent of said movement.

In the embodiment of the invention above referred to the operator tilts a right shoe in one direction and a left shoe in the opposite ,direction in order to position the shoes in proper relation to the knife the extent of the tilting movements of the shoes being respectively limited by the gages. As the gages are arranged for equal adjustment in opposite directions it will be seen. that the heels of right and left shoes me we positioned in such relations with the breasting knife that they will be breasted by cuts having equal and opposite inclinations with their longitudinal median lines. It will be further seen that the means for limiting the tilting movements of the shoes with relation to the breasting knife have provision for engaging the shoes. lNith this arrangement a shoe may be more accurately positioned with relation to the breasting knife than would otherwise be the case. Also in positioning devices embodying the present invention in changing from a right shoe to a left shoe or vice versa no adjustment of the device is required as it is only necessary for the operator to tilt a right shoe in a. direction opposite to that of a left until its tilting movement is limited by gaging means.

Other features of the invention will be hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims; certain features being more broadly claimed in a divisional application, Serial No. 566,202, filed June 10, 1910.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the upper portion of a heel breasting machine provided with a shoe positioning device embodying the present invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are plan views of the shoe positioning device with parts broken away to show the construction. Fig.

4 is a sectional view showing the construction and arrangement of the gages for limiting the tilting movements of the heels. Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a right'heel in operative position within the positioning device. Fig. 6 is a central sectional view taker. longitudinally of the positioning de vice. F 7 is a plan view showing the relation existing between the different sizes of heels commonly employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes.

In the drawings the present invention is shown applied to a machine for breasting heels. The frame 2 of this machine carries a reciprocating breasting knife 4, which may be automatically actuated by any suitable mechanism, and a support 6, for sustaining the shoe to be breasted which is mounted for swinging movement into and out of operative relation to the breasting knife as is common in machines of this kind.

Upon the frame of the machine a holder 8 is mounted for sliding movement in a direc tion substantially parallel with the line of movement of the knife and its lower end is pivotally connected at 9 to the frame 10 of the shoe positioning device. A bolt 14 extending transversely through the holder is arranged to engage a projection 16 extending upwardly from the frame 10 and limit turning movement of the latter about its point of pivotal support, the predominant weight of the rear portion of the shoe positioning device tending to hold the projection 16 in engagement with the end of said bolt. Pemovably secured to the front portion of the frame 10 is a. plate 18 which is adapted to engage the tread portion of the heel of the shoe carried by the shoe support to clamp said shoe in operative posi. tion. To move the plate 18 toward or away from the shoe support in order to clamp or unclamp the shoe there is provided means under the control of the operator for raising or lowering the slide 8 and as the particular mechanism employed to effect this result forms no part of the present invention and may be of any'suitable construc tion. it is not herein shown or described.

To limit movement of the shoe into op- V erative relation with the breasting knife there is provided a rear gage 20 which prd jects centrally from the front end of a substantially rectangular plate 2-1 and is ar ranged to be engaged by the rounded end. of the heel of the shoe. The rear end of the plate 24 is pivotally connected with the front end of a slide 26 which is arranged in a guideway formed in the frame 10 and extends in a direction substantially parallel with the line of movement of the shoe into operative position. In the present construction the plate 24 is pivotally connected to the slide 26 by a ring 28 which has opposite portions respectively received in circularly curved slots formed in said plate and said slide.. In order that the rear ends of the heels may be positioned laterally, there is provided aspringpressed fork 30 the two-arms of which are arranged to engage the edges of a heel upon opposite sides and to yield rearwardly as the heel is moved toward the gage 20. The shank 32 of the fork 'is arranged in a guideway which is formed inthe bottom of the put- 24. and extends in a direction longitudinal thereof. A'cover plate 34 is secured to the bottom of the plate 241- by means of a machine screw 36 and pins 39 extending from said cover plate into sockets in the plate 24.. A slot formed longitudinally in the shank 32 is arranged to receive the machine screw 36, and axspring 38, arrangedin said slot between the machine screw and one endof the slot serves to press the fork outwardly. The slide v26 is pressed forwardly toward the breasting knife by a torsional spring 40 which is wound around a rod 42, extending from the frame 10, and has one end secured in fixed relation with said frame and its other end arranged to engage a stud 44 adapted to be inserted in any one of a series of openings 46 formed in the slide 26. A bar 48 mount ed in av guideway extending longitudinally of the slide 26 is arranged to be adj listed with relation to the slide by a milled headed screw 50. A stud 52 carried by the bar 46 is adapted to engage a stop-surface 56 formed upon a plate 54: carried by a stopslide 58 arranged in a guideway extend-- ing in the frame 10 substantially at right angles to the slide 26. y

In thepresent device the stop surface 56 is substantially straight and is adapted to be positioned in an oblique relation to the line of movement of theslide 26. With this arrangement it will be seen that movement. of the stop slide 58 will cause different por tions of the inclined stop surface 56 to be engaged by the stud 52 so that the limit of rearward movement of the stud 52. and consequently. that of the rear gage 20, varies with the position of the stop slide. The plate 54"has one end pivotally connected by a'pin 60 with the stop slide 58 and is pro vided with a surface 62 that is circularly curved about the pin 60 as a center. Thumb screw 64: extending through the stop slide 58 in proximity to the surface 62 is provided with. a circular flange 66 which overlaps the plate 54 so that the latter may be firmly clamped in engagement with said stop slide 58. It will be seen that upon loosening the thumb screw the plate 54 may be swung about its pivot 60'to position the stop sur-' face 56 in any'desired angular relation with the line of movement of the slide' 26 and may then be clamped in adjusted position by tightening the thumb screw.

In order that the movement of the shoe in the direction of its length may be controlled in accordance with the size of the shoe there is provided means for measuring 'a shoe presented to the machine which is an ranged to adjust the stop slide 58 in accordance with the measurement obtained from the shoe. According to a convenient construction two arms 68 and 70 pivoted to the frame 10 upon opposite sides of the slide 526, have their front ends arranged to en gage the edges of a heel upon opposite sides and to yield equally in opposite directions as said heel is moved rearwardly toward the stop surface which limits its movement. The two arms are yieldingly held toward eachvother by means hereinafter described and are provided with gear segments 72 an ranged to mesh with each other to insure the equal movement of the arms in opposite directions. The arm 68 is provided with a rearward extension 69 which has a length equal to that of the arm and has its rear end connected by a link 74: with the stop slide 58 so that the latter is adjusted in accordance with the movement of the arms 68 and 70 which movement varies with the width of the heel that is inserted between said arms.

As the adjustment of the stop slide 58 controls the rearward limit of movement of the rear gage 20, it will be readily understood that by the provision of the above measuring means the movement of the shoe in the direction of its length will be con trolled in accordance with the size of the shoe. It Will be seen, assuming equal movements of the arm 68 cause equal movements of the stop slide 58, that if the stop surface 56 is straight as in the particular con struction shown upon the drawings, heels of different sizes will be so positioned that the differences between their lengths determined by the breasting operation will have a constant ratio with the differences between their widths. By varying the angular relation between the stop surface and the line of movement of the slide 26, as by adjusting the plate 5-1, the above ratio may be changed to suit different requirements. For example by adjusting the plate 54: until the stop surface 56 makes an angle of substantially 27 with the line of movement of the slide 526, heels of different sizes may be so positioned that the differences between their lengths determined by the breasting operation will be equal to the differences between the widths. Although, in the particular embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the stop surface 56 is straight, it will however be understood that it may have a contour other than that shown. For example, where it is desired that in heels of different sizes the ratio of the differences between their lengths determined by the breasting operation to the differences between their widths shall vary with different sizes of heels, the stop surface may be suitably curved to effect this result and still fall within the scope of the present invention. It will be further seen that not only do the arms 68 and 70 serve to measure the width of the heel presented to the shoe poistioning device but they serve to center said heel laterally as it is inserted between the arms.

There is preferably provided means for locking the stop slide 58 in adjusted position in order that the rear gage 20 may not be forced backward beyond its proper position as determined by the width of the heel presented to the shoe positioning device. To this end the stop slide is constructed to have a limited lateral play in its guideway and a segmental plate 76 is pivoted at a point adjacent its front end upon said slide and has said front end connected to the frame 10 by a link 78. The rounded end of the segmental plate is provided with teeth which are adapted to be forced into engagement with a toothed locking surface 80 carried by the frame 10 when the stop slide 58 is moved laterally and rearwardly in its guideway.

A spring 82 extending between an end of the stop slide 58 and the frame 10 serves to press said slide so that the arms 68 and 70 are yieldingly held toward each other, and said spring is arranged obliquely with relation to the stop slide so that the segmental plate 76 is yieldingly pressed away from the locking surface 80. lVith this arrangement it will be seen that when the stud 52 engages the stop surface 56 as the shoe is moved rearwardly into operative position the stop slide is forced rearwardly against the resistance of the spring 82, so that the toothed end of the segmental plate engages the toothed locking surface 80 and thus locks the stop slide 58 from longitudinal movement. It will be seen that as the movement of the arms 68 and 70 is correlated with the movement of the stop slide the arms will be locked in adjusted position along with the stop slide so that displacement of the breast end of the heel is prevented while the latter is in operative position.

W hen the segmental plate engages the locking member 80 the teeth upon these parts mesh with each other so that the segmental plate can only be locked in predetermined positions, the distance between any two adjacent positions being equal to the distance between said teeth. It will be seen that as the stop slide is moved into its different adjustments the segmental plate turns about its point of pivotal support the linear movements of its toothed surface being relatively greater than the longitudinal movement of the stop slide. With this arrangement the distance between any two adjacent locked positions of the stop slide is much smaller than that between adjacent locked positions of the segmental plate so that the teeth adapted to engage the toothed locking.

member.

In the machine to which the present invention is shown applied the shoe to be operated upon is supported upon a heel plate 84 carried by a jack post 86 which is provided with a joint 97 so that the shoe may be tilted by the operator with the jack about an axis extending substantially parallel with the jact post and the heel of the shoe may be breasted by a cut having the desired angle with the longitudinal median line of the heel. The tilting movement of the jack is provided for by reducing the upper end 97 of the jack post 86 and mounting it rotatably in a suitable hole in the lower end of the jack, as is clearly shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1. In the device previously described lateral movement of the breast end of the heel is restrained by the arms 68 and while the heel is in operative position so that the shoe may be readily tilted about the end of one of the arms as a pivot to position the heel in the desired angular relation with the breasting knife. To limit the extent of this tilting movement there is provided means for limiting lateral movement of the rounded ends of the heels in opposite directions respectively. To this end in a guideway extending transverse of the slide 26 two gages 88 are arranged upon opposite sides of the cover plate 3% and interconnected by a right and left hand threaded rod 90 which is provided with a milled head 92 adapted to be manipulated by the operator. The gages 88 are adapted to be engaged by opposite sides of the cover plate 3st so as to limit swinging movement of the plate 2a in opposite directions respectively about its point of pivotal connection with the slide 26.

As the fork 30 is carried by the plate 24 it will be seen that the swinging movement of the fork and consequently the lateral movement that is permitted the rounded end of a heel in engagement with said fork, about an axis extending substantially parallel with the ack post varies with the positions of said gages. By adjusting the milled head 92 the gages 88 may be moved toward each other until they engage opposite sides of the cover plate 34 so that the fork 30 is held in its central position shown in Fig. 3. lVith this position of the parts a heel placed in operative position with its rounded end in engagement with the fork 30 will be breasted by a cut that extends substantially at right angles to the longitudinal median line of the heel. To breast heels by cuts which extend oblique to the longitudinal median lines of the heels the milled head 92 is manipulated to adjust the gages 88 away from each other, the amount of this adjustment depending upon the inclination that is desired for the breasts of the heels.

After adjusting the gages if it is desired to operate upon a right shoe the latter is moved into operative position with the rounded end of its heel in engagement with the fork 30, and is then tilted about the end of one of the arms 68 and 70 untilthe plate 3a strikes the right gage when the shoe will be properly positioned to insure the desired To inclination of the breast of-the heel. operate upon a left shoe it is placed in oper ative position and tilted until the plate 34; strikes the left gage when the shoe will be so positioned that its heel will be breasted by a out having the proper inclination. It

will be noted that as the gages 88 are ar-' ranged to be adjusted equally andin oppo-" site directions that the inclinations of the breasts of right and left heels with relation to their longitudinal median lines may be varied but will be equal and opposite so that the heels of a pair of shoes will have symmetrical appearance. 5

It will be seen, in the use of the present device, that with a long heel the point of pivotal connection between the plate 34 and the slide 26 is'positioned farther rearwardly than with a short heel. Accordingly where the sides of the plate 34: are parallel, the amount of swing permitted the plate 34 and consequently the amount permitted the fork 30, with a given adjustment of the gages 88, is somewhat less with a long heel than with a short one. Moreover, to breastheels of different lengths by cuts having the same degree of obliquity with the longitudinal median lines of the heels, it is necessary that the rounded end of a long heel have a greater lateral swing than the rounded end of a short heel. In Fig. 2 the plate 3% is shown as tapering toward its front end in such manner that with the same adjustment of the gage 88 heels of different lengths may i be so positioned that the degree of obliq t; of their breasts as determined by the breasting operation will be substantially the same. It will, of course, be understood that the plate 3-1 may have a contour other than that shown and still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Preliminary to the use of the device above described, the plate 54 is adjusted in such manner that the differences between the lengths of different heels as determined by the breasting operation will have the desired ratio to the differences between their widths. For example, if it is desired that the dif ferences between the lengths of the heels shall be equal to the differences between their widths, which is commonly the case in the heels employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes, the plate 54- is adjusted so that the stop surface makes an angle of 1 TWO substantially 27 with the line of movement of the slide 26. The milled headed screw 50 is then adjusted in order that the lengths of the heels as determined by the breasting operation shall be suitably proportioned to their widths. Thereafter for difierent sized heels of similar shapes, that is with heels which have a relation to each other such as that existing between the heels shown in Fig. 7 no further adjustment is required in operating upon said heels. The proper angular adjustment of the plate 54: to suit a given requirement and the proper adjustment of the screw 50 may be conveniently determined by tria The adjustment for the gages S8'will be readily understood from the description previously given. In the use of the machine shown, assuming the above adjustments to have been made, the shoe to be operated upon is placed upon the shoe support and the latter is swung toward the knife so that the rounded end of the heel is inserted between the arms 68 and 7 0 which yield equally and in opposite directions to permit this insertion. In the further movement of the shoe the rounded end of the heel engages the fork 30 which yields and centers the rounded end of the heel as the latter is moved toward the gage 20. The gage 20 yields to the movement of the heel until the stud 52 strikes the stop surface 56 and forces the segment 7 6 against the locking surface 80, when the rearward movement of the gage 20 is arrested and the stop surface 56 and arms 68 and 70 are locked in adjusted positions. Since the adjustment of the stop surface 56 is correlated with the movements of the arms 68 and 70 the heels will be positioned in'the direction of their lengths in accordance with the widths of said heels. To breast the heels by cuts having an oblique relation to the longitudinal median lines of the heels a right shoe is tilted about an end of one of the arms 68 and 70 until the plate 34: strikes the right gage, and aleft shoe is tilted until the plate 34 strikes the left gage. The holder 8 is then lowered so that the plate 18 engages the tread surface of the heel and clamps the shoe in operative position. Thereafter the breasting knife is actuated to breast the heel in the usual manner. The plate 18 is then raised from engagement with the shoe and the jack post is swung outwardly so that the heel of the shoe is withdrawn from the positioning device when the shoe may be removed in the usual way. After the heel has been with drawn from the device, the spring 40 moves the slide 26 forwardly so that the gage 20 is returned to its original position. The fork 30 is also returned by its spring to its forward position. The spring 82 moves the stop slide laterally in its guideway so that the segment 7 6 is free from engagement with the lock surface and thereafter returns the stop slide to its original position so that the arms 68 and 70 are moved together in readiness to receive another heel.

It will be seen that in accordance with the present invention a shoe and an operating tool may be relatively positioned in accordance with the size of the shoe which is of assistance in insuring that the work turned out by machines provided with a positioning device embodying the present invention will be accurately performed, and that the work will be of uniform quality.

Although it has been herein stated that the present device is adapted to relatively position a shoe and an operating tool it will however be understood that the invention is not limited for use with boots and shoes in accordance with a strict definition of these terms. Devices embodying the present invention may be employed not only to position shoes themselves but any part of a shoe as for example a heel or the rounded end of the upper and still fall within the scope of the invention. Moreover the present invention is equally applicable to devices for positioning lasts or to devices for positioning any article having a shape similar to that of a shoe or to any part thereof. It will be further understood that although the present device is employed to relatively position a shoe and an operating tool the invention is applicable to devices for relatively positioning a shoe and some article other than an operating tool. For example where it is desired to relatively position any two parts of a shoe in accordance with the size of one of these parts a device embodying the present invention could be readily employed to effect this result.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A heel breasting machine, having in combination, a breasting knife, a shoe support arranged for movement into and out of the range of said knife, members arranged to have yielding engagement with opposite sides of the heel in the movement of the shoe into operative position, and means for locking said members from separating movement rendered effective by the later portion of the movement of the shoe support into operative position.

2. A heel breasting machine, having in combination, a breasting knife, a shoe support arranged for movement into and out of the range of said knife, a stop for limiting movement of the shoe into the range of the knife adjustable to vary the limit of movement of the shoe, means for adjusting said stop in accordance with the width of the heel arranged to be actuated by the movement of the shoe, and means for locking said stop in adjusted position.

4. In a heel breasting machine, in which a shoe and a'breasting knife have a relative" movement into and out of operative relation, the combination w1th an adjustable gage for limiting movement of a shoe in the direction of its length arranged for lateral swinging movement with the rounded end of the heel of the shoe, of means for limiting said swinging movement in opposite directions respectively constructed to insure a substantially equal swing for the gage in its different adjustments.

5. A heel breastingmachine, having in combination, a breasting knife and a shoe support mounted for tilting movement to permit a shoe to be sustained with the longitudinal median line of its heel in an oblique relation to the knife andarranged for movement into and out of operative re lation to the knife, a gage for limiting movement of the shoe into operative relation with the knife, means for centering the shoe with relation to the gage, and means for limiting said tilting movement in opposite directions respectively.

6. In a shoe machine, the combination with a shoe support constructed to tilt about an axis transverse of a shoe supported thereon,

of members arranged to be engaged by opposite edges of the heel of said shoe to limit the extent of said movement.

7. In a machine of the class described a slide having a gage for limiting movement of a shoe in the direction of its length, a member extending transverse of the slide constructed and arranged to limit rearward mo ement of said slide. and means for adjusting said member. in accordance with the size of the shoe presented to the 'machine.

8. A machine for operating upon boots and shoes having in combination an operating tool, a shoe-support arranged for movement into and out of the range of said tool, an adjustable gage for limiting movementof the shoe into the range of the .tool, a member for controlling the adjustment of said gage arranged for movement across the line of movement of the gage, and means for adjusting said member in accordance with the size of the shoe present-ed to the machine.

9. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a slide, a member articulated therewith having provision for engaging a shoeand constructed for movement with the shoe in a direction transverse of'the slide, gages for limiting the transverse movement of said member in opposite directions respectively, said member being provided with surfaces arranged at inclinations to each other for engagement with said gages, and means for controlling the movement of said slide.

10. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a gage for engaging the rounded end of a heel arranged for lateral move ment with said end, means for'limiting the movement of said in the direction of the'length of the heel controlled in accord ance with the width of the heel, and means for limiting the'lateral movement of said gage in opposite directions respectively.

11. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, an adjustable gage formed to be engaged by the rounded end of a heel, a spring pressed fork arranged to center the heel laterally as it is moved toward the gage, and meansfor limit-ing movement of the gage controlled in accordance with the width of the heel presented tothe device.

12. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a slide having provisionfo-r engaging a shoe to limit its movement in the direction of its length, a second slide extend ing transversely of the first slide, one of said slides being provided with a surface extending obliquely to the line of movement of the other slide arranged to engage a member carried by the latter whereby movement of the second slide will control the, ad-

justmentof.the first slide, means for adusting the second slide in accordance with the size ofthe shoe presented to the device, and means whereby the angular relation be-' tween said surface and said line of move ment may be varied to suit different requirements.

13. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a slide having provision for engaging a shoe to limit its movement in the direction of its length, a second slide ex end,- ing transversely of the first slide, one of said slides being provided with a surface extending obliquely to the line of movement of the other slide arranged to engage a member carried by the latter whereby movement of the second slide will. control the adjustment of the first slide, means for adjusting the second slide in'accordance with the size of the shoe presented to the device, means whereby the angular relation between said surface and said line of movement may be varied to suit different requirements, and

means for varying the effectiv length of the first slide.

14. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, yielding members arranged to engage opposite portions of a shoe heel and to center the shoe transversely of its line of longitudinal movement into operative position, and means for locking said members in adjusted position said means being rendered effective by the later portion of the movement of the shoe into operative position.

15. A heel breasting machine, having in combination, a stop for limiting movement of a shoe into operative position under the knife, means controlled by the shoe for adjusting the stop, and means for locking said stop in adjusted position rendered effective by the later portion of the movement of the shoe longitudinally into operative position.

16. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a stop for limiting movement of a shoe in the direction of its length, means controlled by the shoe for adjusting the stop to vary the limit of movement of the shoe, and means for locking said stop in adjusted position.

17. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a stop for limiting movement of a shoe lengthwise into operative position, adjustable to vary the limit of move ment of the shoe, and means controlled by the shoe for locking said stop in adjusted position.

18. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a stop for limiting longitudinal movement of a shoe into operative position, means controlled by the shoe for ad justing the stop to vary the limit of said movement of the shoe, and means for looking said stop in adjusted position arranged to be rendered inefiective upon movement of the shoe out of operative position.

19. In a shoe machine, a slide, a locking surface arranged in proximity thereto, a locking member carried by the slide having a toothed surface arranged to be moved into engagement with said locking surface by lateral movement of said slide, and means actuated by the longitudinal movement of the slide for moving said toothed surface along said locking surface constructed to move the toothed surface a distance greater than the longitudinal distance through which the slide moves.

20. In a shoe machine, a movable member, a locking surface arranged in proximity thereto, a locking device carried by said member having a toothed surface arranged to be moved into engagement With said locking surface, and means actuated by the movement of said member for moving said toothed surface along said locking surface constructed to move the toothed surface a distance greater than the distance through Which said member moves.

21. A shoe machine having in comb nation an operating tool, a shoe support arranged for movement into and out of the inaaaao range of said tool, a stop for limiting movement of the shoe toward the tool in the direction of the length of the shoe by engage ment with the rear face of the shoe, an

means for measuring a shoe presented to the machine, arranged to control the position of said stop, said measuring means being constructed to center the shoe transversely of its line of movement into operative position.

22. A shoe positioning device having in combination an adjustable gage for determining the longitudinal position of the shoe, a member constructed and arranged to control the adjustment of the gage, means for adjusting the member in accordance with the size of the shoe presented to the device, and means mechanically controlled by said gage for locking said member in adjusted position.

23. A shoe positioning device having in combination a slide, having provision for engaging a shoe, a second slide extending transversely of the first slide, one of said slides being provided with a surface extending obliquely to the line of movement of the other slide arranged to engage a member u carried by the latter whereby movement of the second slide Will control the adjustment of the first slide, and means for adjusting the second slide in accordance With the size of the shoe presented to the device.

24L. A shoe positioning device having in combination an adjustable gage for limitingmovement of a shoe in the direction of its length, a member constructed and arranged to control the adjustment of said gage, means for adjusting the member in accordance With the size of the shoe to be positioned, and means for locking said member in adjusted position.

A heel positioning device, having in combination, arms arranged to be engaged by the sides of a heel and interconnected for equal movement in opposite directions, a stop contacting With the rear portion of the heel for limiting rearward movement of the heel, and means for controlling the position of said stop arranged to be actuated by the movement of said arms.

26. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, means for laterally centering a shoe constructed to accommodate shoes of different sizes, and separate adjustable means for positioning a shoe in the direction of its length arranged to be automatically adjusted by said centering means.

27. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, means for laterally centering a shoe arranged to accommodate shoes of different Widths, means engaging the rear of the heel for longitudinally positioning the shoe and arranged for adjustment to suit shoes of different lengths, and means for correlating said length and Width adjustments to vary them together but to different degrees.

28. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, a plurality of positioning members arranged respectively to engage the edges of a shoe upon opposite sides and interconnected for equal movement in opposite directions, and a rear gage arranged to be automatically adjusted in the direction of the length of the shoe by the movement of said members.

29. A shoe positioning device, having in combination, means for laterally centering shoes arranged for adjustment to accommodate shoes of different widths, means for longitudinally positioning a shoe arranged for simultaneous adjustment with said centering means, and means for locking said centering and positioning means in adjusted posltions.

30. In a machine of the class described, clamping members for engaging the sides of the heel, resilient means for normally holding the members in engagement with the heel, a back stop for determining the rearward position of the heel, and means operated by the pressure of the heel against said stop for positively locking the clamping members in engaging position.

31. A machine of the class described, having, in combination, a back stop for engagement with the rear face of the heel, clamping members for engaging the sides of the heel, means for locking the clamping members in clamping position, and connections between the stop and said locking means whereby the members are locked by pressure of the shoe against said stop.

32. A machine of the class described having, in combination, clamping members mounted for equal and opposite movement about relatively fixed axes toward and from the sides of the shoe heel, a stop for engaging the rear of the shoe and movable relatively to said axes, and means operated by said stop for locking said members against movement.

33. A machine of the class described having, in combination, clamping members mounted for equal and opposite movement laterally of a shoe, and means adapted to be engaged and moved by the shoe heel when introduced between said members to efl'ect Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner locking of said members from further lateral movement.

84. A machine of the class described having, in combination, clamping members mounted for equal and opposite movement laterally of a shoe, resilient means for moving said members toward each other, means adapted to be engaged by the shoe heel when introduced between said members and to be moved by the shoe relatively to said members to effect locking of said members from farther separation.

85. A heel breasting machine having, in combination a breasting knife, a shoe support arranged for movement into and out of the range of movement of the knife, members arranged to have yielding engagement with the opposite sides of the heel in the movement of the shoe into operative position, and means for locking said members from separating movement rendered effective by the latter portion of the movement of the shoe relativelv to said members into position to be operated upon.

36. A machine of the class described having, in combination, shoe treating means, a

shoe support arranged for movement into and out of operative relation to said treating means, means arranged to have yielding engagement with the opposite sides of the shoe during the movement ofthe shoe into position, and means for locking said members from separation, said means being rendered effective bv the latter portion of the movement of the shoe relatively to said member.

37. A machine of the class described having, in combination, shoe treating means, shoe clamping means mounted for equal and opposite movement, a locking bar positively connected to said shoe clamping means, a back stop for engaging the rear face of the shoe and movable thereby, and means operated bv movement of the back stop for locking said bar to hold the shoe clamping means in engagement with the shoe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH C. SIMMONS. l/Vitnesses:

CHESTER EUGENE Rooms, LEONARD M. JOHNSON.

of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

